20: Chapter Fourteen: T.M.
Opera O Takes the Stage, and the Three-Way Struggle Begins 20: Chapter Fourteen: T.M.
Opera O Takes the Stage, and the Three-Way Struggle Begins With Air Groove’s arrival, the crowd around the cafeteria swelled even further.
Such was the power of Tracen Academy’s Empress.
Wherever she went, people were drawn to that commanding presence of hers.
So when Air Groove and T.M.
Opera O stepped into the cafeteria, it took almost no time at all for the place to fill with Uma Musume who had no idea what was going on, but absolutely refused to miss the show.
Naturally, the moment King Halo grabbed Air Groove and declared war on Kitano Ryuuichi, every single spectator saw it.
And just like that, the cafeteria erupted.
“Whoa, that’s rare.
King Halo-san is declaring war on someone?” “What happened?
Doesn’t she always say, ‘Getting all worked up over competition is unbecoming of a first-rate Uma Musume’?” “Then why is she doing it now?” “Also, who’s that trainer?
I’ve never seen him before.
He’s kind of handsome, isn’t he?” “And who’s the girl in casual clothes?” The clueless Uma Musume immediately began buzzing with curiosity.
One of them spotted a girl who often hung around King Halo and quickly tapped her on the shoulder.
“Hey, aren’t you King Halo-san’s friend?
Do you know what’s going on?” “H-Huh?
I don’t really know either…” the girl stammered.
“I only saw that girl in casual clothes acting really close with that trainer, and then King Halo-san got super mad…” She had no idea what had actually happened, so she simply repeated what she had seen.
Unfortunately for her, that was exactly the kind of juicy detail everyone wanted.
In an instant, the surrounding Uma Musume’s eyes lit up like wolves catching the scent of meat.
They closed in around King Halo’s poor follower.
“Excuse me, could you explain that in more detail?” “From the beginning, please.” “Don’t leave anything out, okay?” The girl went pale.
“Tracen Academy has no explicit rule forbidding Uma Musume from arranging practice races among themselves,” Air Groove said, her tone calm and formal.
“Healthy competition can improve everyone’s overall ability.
As long as no underhanded methods are used and the spirit of fair play is maintained, there is no issue.” Air Groove glanced at King Halo, then at Kitano Ryuuichi and Mihono Bourbon.
She had been here for less than five minutes, but she already had a rough grasp of the situation.
After all, she had been present earlier when Kitano had bluntly evaluated King Halo, only for King Halo to overhear the entire thing.
Air Groove had originally intended to use that incident as an opportunity.
King Halo had an especially strong competitive streak, and Air Groove wanted to introduce her to Kitano as a potential trainee, then observe what he could do with her.
She had not expected King Halo to get so angry that she would publicly declare war on him.
Still, this was not necessarily a problem.
There were ways to properly rein in this young lady.
Air Groove agreed with Kitano’s assessment.
King Halo needed a trainer capable of keeping her under control and making her listen to advice.
Only then could she truly draw out her potential.
The only difference was that Kitano had meant, Find her another trainer.
Air Groove, however, had a different thought.
Kitano Ryuuichi himself is exactly the kind of trainer King Halo needs.
With that in mind, the corner of Air Groove’s mouth curved ever so slightly.
She had a plan.
“However,” Air Groove continued, “if this is a formal challenge, then I assume the terms and stakes have already been decided?” “Of course!” King Halo declared, puffing out her chest with absolute confidence.
“A first-rate Uma Musume like me would naturally have everything planned!” She turned sharply toward Kitano and pointed at him.
“Since he dared to speak so rudely about the first-rate me, he must surely believe himself to be a trainer capable of standing above me!” “In that case, I will challenge him through ability!” King Halo’s eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
“Within one week, he will bring his own trainee and race against me!
I will defeat the Uma Musume he trained with his own hands, the one he supposedly believes can rival the first-rate me!
Then I will show him just how shallow his understanding of true excellence really is!” She was completely fired up.
Honestly, as someone who had been King Halo’s partner in the previous loop, Kitano found this version of her almost unrecognizable.
The King Halo in his memories was usually more like… “What?
You want the first-rate me to run while surrounded by those Uma Musume?
Even if you are my trainer, I cannot accept such a request.” “Conserving stamina so I can prepare for the next race right away is a first-rate tactic, you know.
Besides, what does it matter if I let them have this victory?
I have no interest in fighting them over one little race.” “Running in summer is too hot.
Running in the rain feels awful.
Dirt tracks kick sand into my eyes.
A course unworthy of my first-rate status is not a course I will run on!” …That sort of thing.
To be blunt, King Halo had always given Kitano the illusion that he had not recruited an Uma Musume at all.
He had recruited an extremely high-maintenance young lady who required delicate handling at all times.
That said, Kitano had eventually learned how to work with her.
The method was simple.
When she hesitated, make the decision for her.
When she had already made up her mind, do not argue.
That was all.
And right now, King Halo had clearly decided that she wanted to race him because of what he had said earlier.
Which meant there was no point refusing.
Even if Kitano did not want to accept, he had no choice.
There was just one problem.
He did not currently have a trainee.
One week was far too short.
Finding a trainee and training her in that timeframe was absurdly rushed.
At this rate, both Uma Musume might stumble onto the track half-prepared and call it a race.
“Um, I—” “Challenge accepted.” Before Kitano could answer, Mihono Bourbon spoke first.
Her response came so quickly that it almost felt like she was afraid King Halo might take the offer back.
Her eyes even brightened slightly.
“Mihono Bourbon accepts King Halo’s challenge.
New log has been added to the program.” “Eh?” Kitano froze.
Bourbon had accepted on her own.
But he had not accepted yet!
Wait.
More importantly, she was not even his trainee right now.
How was she accepting on his behalf?!
Kitano’s brain stalled for a moment.
Everything was moving too fast.
Just as he began to suspect he had somehow been swept into becoming Mihono Bourbon’s trainer again without ever agreeing to it, a bright, theatrical laugh rang out through the cafeteria.
“Hahahahahaha!
What a splendid scene!
So dazzling, one cannot help but long to sing of a duel worthy of the century!” The voice soared like it belonged on a stage.
“Alas, what stands before us is but a magnificent farce!
A drama whose leading actor has not even been chosen.
No matter how brilliant the script, a play cannot continue without its star!” T.M.
Opera O, who had been standing beside Air Groove from the start under the simple pretext of “helping out,” suddenly stepped forward.
And with that single declaration, the chaotic scene that had been on the verge of spinning out of control was yanked right back onto its rails.
All at once, Kitano, Mihono Bourbon, King Halo, and even Air Groove turned toward her.
T.M.
Opera O’s gestures were grand.
Her voice rang clear.
Air Groove narrowed her eyes slightly.
“T.M.
Opera O.
What do you mean?” “Simple!” T.M.
Opera O announced.
“This drama lacks its leading actor!
And that leading actor is none other than Trainer Kitano’s official trainee!” With a smile, T.M.
Opera O walked forward.
She was slightly shorter than both Mihono Bourbon and King Halo, but that did nothing to diminish her presence.
Somehow, through sheer confidence alone, she seemed to take command of the entire room.
She stopped in front of Mihono Bourbon.
“Beautiful Uma Musume.
Ah, you are like a white lotus, cool and graceful.” Her smile never wavered.
“But no matter how enchanting you may be, at this moment, you do not yet belong to this prince.” She tilted her head, eyes bright with theatrical amusement.
“You are not Trainer Kitano’s trainee.
Therefore, you do not have the authority to decide on his behalf.
Am I wrong?” T.M.
Opera O’s tone was warm.
There was not a trace of hostility in it.
And yet Mihono Bourbon’s pupils widened noticeably.
She had been shaken.
For Mihono Bourbon, whose expression was usually so calm that it bordered on blank, that tiny reaction was more than enough proof.
Her face remained composed, but her gaze sharpened.
She stared at T.M.
Opera O.
Something about this flamboyant, absurdly dramatic woman felt familiar.
Not in personality.
Not in behavior.
But in essence.
A strange sense of similarity.
And because of that, Mihono Bourbon realized something.
The situation was no longer unfolding the way she had predicted.